wicketkeeper

[wik-it-kee-per]

noun

Cricket.

1. the player on the fielding side who stands immediately behind the wicket to stop balls that pass it.

wicketkeeper

/ ˈwɪkɪtˌkiːpə /

noun

1. cricket the player on the fielding side positioned directly behind the wicket

Word History and Origins

Origin of wicketkeeper¹

First recorded in 1740–50; wicket + keeper

Example Sentences

Even the normally loquacious Healy - niece of former Australia men's wicketkeeper Ian - lacked her usual chirp behind the stumps.

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Attempting a single after pushing the ball to mid-off, Jaiswal set off, but Gill had his back towards the striker and was ball-watching, and wicketkeeper Tevin Imlach was quick to rattle the stumps.

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For much of the second innings, it was India who would have expected to be talking about battling back to claim victory after wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh had bludgeoned 94 from 77 to rescue them from 102-6.

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However, when it came to selecting players to watch, Kerr opted for two of her younger team-mates: batter Georgia Plimmer, who was New Zealand's joint-highest run-scorer at the 2024 T20 World Cup, and wicketkeeper Izzy Gaze.

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Brook has the ability to play a defining role and Jamie Smith's challenge is to stay the course after fading against India, his first five-Test series as a wicketkeeper.

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